Caitlin Clark has been one of the most discussed basketball players in the country this year. The Indiana Fever star has risen to prominence after setting an all-time NCAA scoring record and being this year’s top WNBA draft pick. Clark’s accomplishments thus far speak for themselves, but she will not be on this year’s Olympic basketball squad, which has infuriated fans and analysts who believe she has been overlooked. Now, USA Basketball has responded to the criticism. Jen Rizzotti, chair of the Olympic team selection committee, told The Associated Press that the organization chose athletes based on their skills and chemistry. “Here’s the basketball criteria that we were given as a committee and how do we evaluate our players based on that?” Rizzotti said. “And when you make a judgment based on criteria, there were those players who were more difficult to cut because they ticked so many boxes. Then it comes down to position, style of play for [head coach] Cheryl [Reeve], and occasionally a vote.”
Simply put, officials believe Clark is still too early in her professional career to be considered for a position on the squad. All of the other newcomers to the 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 teams have previously competed in major professional contests. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, who will be joining the 5-on-5 team for the first time, are both accomplished athletes. Plum won back-to-back WNBA championships with the Las Vegas Aces in 2022 and 2023, while Young helped the United States win the first-ever 3×3 gold medal in Tokyo in 2021. The other newcomers to the 5×5 roster, Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu, and Kahleah Copper, were part of the United States’ 2022 women’s basketball World Cup winning team. “It’s a great mix of talent across the board in terms of individual skill sets,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley stated. “We have veterans, newcomers, and everybody in between. Good perspective and continuity are critical, and they are the reasons for our Olympic success.” In all, all of the players going to Paris have senior national team experience, whilst Clark has none. “She’s certainly going to continue to get better and better,” said Tooley. “Really hope that she’s a big part of our future going forward.”
Clark, for her part, is using the fact that she was not selected for this year’s team as incentive to make the 2028 Olympic team. “I think it just gives you something to work for,” she told reporters earlier this week, according to the Associated Press. “This is a dream. Hopefully, one day I’ll be there. I believe it is just a bit extra motivation. You remember that. Hopefully, when four years roll around, I’ll be there.”
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